Saina for Padma Bhushan

Hyderabad, Jan 5 (INN): The Department of Sports, Government of India, on Monday decided to recommend the name of badminton star Saina Nehwal for the Padma Bhusan award.

The Union Home Ministry also clarified on why Saina Nehwal was not recommended earlier for the Padma Bhushan award. According to a PIB release, on 1st May, 2014, the Ministry of Home Affairs invited nominations for Padma Awards. Last date for forwarding nominations to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was 15.09.2014.

The Department of Sports circulated the MHA's letter to all the National Sports Federations / Sports Control Boards for sending the nominations of sports persons and coaches to the Department of Sports by 20.08.2014. Based on the nominations received from the Federations etc., the Departments of Sports recommended the name of Sushil Kumar (wrestling) for Padma Bhushan. The recommendation was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 15.09.2014.

Sushil Kumar's recommendation for Padma Bhushan Award was made after taking into consideration his achievements, viz. Bronze Medal in Beijing Olympic Games-2008; Gold medal in Commonwealth Games-2010; Gold Medal in Senior World Wrestling Championship-2010; Silver Medal in London Olympic Games-2012; Gold Medal in Commonwealth Games-2014; and several other achievements at national and international level.

The Ministry had not received nomination in respect of Saina Nehwal from Badminton Association of India or any other agency, for Padma Bhushan for 2014.

It is also clarified that Ministry had not received any nomination in respect of Saina Nehwal last year either. So the question of Department of Sports intimating Saina Nehwal that her nomination for Padma Bhushan was not recommended to the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2013, as there has to be a gap of five years between two Padma Awards, does not arise.

"The Ministry has since received the nomination of Saina Nehwal for Padma Bhushan on 3rd January, 2015 from Badminton Association of India. In view of the achievements of Saina Nehwal, the Department of Sports has decided to recommend her case for Padma Bhushan to the Ministry of Home Affairs as a special case although the last date for making the recommendation is long over," according to the press release.